ALSO NOTED: Titan discontinues Phase II; Poniard lines up $15M; and much more...

> Titan Pharmaceuticals announced it was launching a Phase III trial for opioid independence but discontinued a Phase II trial of an experimental therapy for CHF without explanation. Report

> South San Francisco-based Poniard has secured a $15 million loan. Release

> Bilcare has acquired DHP, a UK-based clinical trials service provider. Report

> Insert Therapeutics has completed a $10 million private placement. Release 

> Evolutec has raised 2.8 million stg in a private placement. Report

> Millennium Pharmaceuticals discussed plans to focus on Velcade and pipeline development in its latest quarterly report. Report

> The FDA has signed off on Human Genome Sciences Phase III trial of LymphoStat-B. Report

And Finally... Researchers are studying the use of fat stem cells for breast reconstruction. Release